WVU Sets to Host Wrestle-Offs on Saturday

Saturday, October 27

Morgantown, W.Va.

2:00 P.M.

West Virginia University

Wrestle-Offs

Photo by: Katie MacCrory

October 26, 2018 01:01 PM | Wrestling

By: Amy Salvatore

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Less than a week away from its season opener, the West Virginia University wrestling team will play host to its annual wrestle-offs on Saturday, at 2 p.m. ET, inside the Shell Building.

Saturday's event is open to the public. A live stream will not be available during the match, but fans can follow along on Twitter for live updates.

First-year coach Tim Flynn and his staff scheduled a tentative bracket for each weight class, with a mixture of established veterans and talented newcomers competing in front of Mountaineer fans for the first time this season.

"Everyone is going to wrestle-off," Flynn said. "It's going to be like a tournament, but we're trying to instill that kind of competition in everything they do. You'll hear me tell them to compete when we are doing pushups or sit ups. I want them to always compete. If you get in that mode day in and day out, then it makes it easier on game day."

Nineteen of West Virginia's true freshmen are slated to compete Saturday night.

"A lot of the freshman are really working hard," Flynn said. "We've been really happy with our freshmen class and the newcomers. They stand out as far as their work ethic. I think the younger guys are doing well."

The list of returnees, who will compete on Saturday, include Devin Brown (125), Joey Thomas (125), Joe Wheeling (141), Kyler Rea (149), Christian Monserrat (149), Zach Moore (157), Luke Sorboro (157), Hunter Jones (157), Nick Kiussis (165), Hunter DeLong (174), Noah Adams (197), David Smith (HWT), Sean Mullican (HWT) and Brandon Ngati (HWT).

Redshirt sophomore Matthew Schmitt, who will not wrestle at Saturday's event, is the lone Mountaineer to check-in to this year's preseason rankings, at 133 pounds. The 2018 NCAA qualifier sits at No. 18 by the Open Mat, No. 19 by FloWrestling and No. 20 by FloWrestling.

West Virginia officially kicks off its 2018-19 season against Big 12 affiliate Northern Colorado on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. ET, at the WVU Coliseum. It is the first of two Dollar Nights planned for the year. All tickets and select concessions will be available for $1 each. Additionally, Mountaineer Maniac students in attendance will receive free food and a giveaway item.

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting WVUGAME.com, calling 1-800-WVUGAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located at the Gold Gate of the WVU Coliseum. All tickets are general admission.

With the exception of the two Dollar Nights, tickets purchased online are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more. At the WVU Coliseum ticket window, tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups. The discounted online pricing will be available until first serve on game day. Fans are encouraged to order tickets in advance online at WVUGAME.com to avoid lines at the gate.

Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student I.D.

Of note, to provide a safer environment for Mountaineer fans and to expedite entry into all ticketed WVU athletic events, the West Virginia Department of Intercollegiate Athletics enforces the NFL's Clear Bag Policy. The athletic department invites and encourages fans to visit WVUsports.com/clearbag for more information, to view pictures of permissible and non-permissible items and to obtain answers to frequently asked questions about the clear bag policy.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.